Manjhi questions Nitish over implementation of his 34 agendas

Patna: Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today questioned Nitish government as to why it was implementing 'modified' versions of his 34 agendas which were cancelled soon after he was removed from the post.

Questioning his removal from the chief minister's post, Manjhi said, "The decision on 34 agendas which my Cabinet had approved was cancelled shamelessly by Nitish Kumar after succeeding me, but today he is implementing those issues slowly and gradually."

After coming back to power on February 22 this year following removal of Manjhi, Nitish Kumar Cabinet had in its very first sitting struck down the decisions on 34 issues taken by his predecessor citing they did not conform with the laid down rules of the Cabinet.

But, these agendas were being put into action after 'trimming' them 'to put his own stamp', Manjhi who has floated 'Hindustani Awam Morcha', now a part of NDA, said. "My government had decided to pay salary of 13 months to policemen from Inspector down to constable ranks, but Nitish Kumar has omitted the Inspector rank from it while giving green signal to it," Manjhi cited.

"Likewise, my government had decided to give reservation to various categories, including OBC women in tender for road construction works of upto Rs. 25 lakh which the Nitish Kumar Cabinet yesterday okayed but reduced the amount to Rs 15 lakh," Manjhi, flanked by former ministers Narendra Singh and Nitish Mishra, said.

Similarly, my government's decision to constitute a panel to look into issue of regularising contractual employees has also been adopted by the present government, he added.